ISSUE 136 : May/Jun - 1999 - Australian Defence Force Journal

32AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE JOURNAL NO. 136 MAY/JUNE 1999stakeholders, linking/distributing benefits, involvingcommunity leadership, participation in project cycles,using change agents, correctly identifying site specificconditions, tracking progress and promotingcommunity ownership.To some extent and with out an identifiableprofessional model (other than “Hearts and Minds”)these tenets were endeavoured by the 1 RARBattalion Group, UNOSOM II, Baidoa Human ReliefSector, Somalia. As mentioned previously modernmilitary philosophy is demystifying to the pointwhere MCD could well be an effective tool in thefield for commanders servicing a UN mandate. Thisexemplifies the point that a platform already exists inthe modern military for community development.Additionally a well trained unit would be able todevelop an effective community intelligence networkon a par and working with PSY OPS.Most literary arguments indicate that UN charterwork will increasingly make demands on the ADFand in this context it requires a role similar, butdifferent from the traditional military operation. Theauthor believes this is part of the challenge that thefuture offers the ADF.Australia is additionally well positioned in itscivilian police forces to assist in civilianising PDdeployments. The Northern Territory Police Force forexample has been dealing and working with withcommunity based fragmentation for years.The concept outlined with MCD will requireongoing refinement, and can provide a step towardtangible and effective PK/PD operations. What isneeded is an opportunity to put together all theelements defined in this paper and then demonstrate itin the field.Authors note and acknowledgmentThe author is a Social Worker with the DefenceCommunity Organisation (DCO) however the DCOdoes not auspice this discussion article. This not tosay that the DCO thinks the model will not work. It isviewed, and quite rightly so, as a radical departureand a long way from the theoretical social work framework of CD as practised anywhere in the world. Thisis simply due to the concept of its application in whatis essentially a combat situation.I am of the view that the ADF will increasingly beinvolved in UN Humanitarian deployments as theprocess of fragmentation continues. Any suggestedtactical skill that can assist the ADF with itsresponsibility in minimising human life loss on thesemandates, and improving the quality of life gained, isI believe, also part of a social worker’s duty of care.Having worked in the field of CommunityDevelopment on and off for some twenty years I havea habit of linking benefits, and somewhat stunnedmyself with the realisation that quite possibly whatUN military deployments might need was a tangibleCD model. I could not believe that after all theexpenditure on UN deployments and their constantshortfalls that no one had really looked at a CDmodel. In researching this article this factor becamemore and more obvious.I started writing this article in late 96 after a fewdiscussions with ADF members who having beendeployed on UN mandates were expressing somemeasure of frustration. It seemed that a lot of thoseinvolved on UN deployments saw themselves, atvarious levels, working in something of a vacuum andtrying to grasp at something that was always justbeyond their reach. It was a common groundexpressed by all ranks. This aspect was also reflected(directly and indirectly) in the articles I was readingon the subject. I have drawn, and based some of theargument on the material listed in the bibliography.John Mackinley’s article however was published afterthe first draft of this article. It is recommendedcomplimentary reading as it helped to link the modeltogether and touches on the above mentioned“common ground”.The first draft was completed in late 96, by March97 it was a rough model, but enough for theA/DGDCO, Mr Lindsay Kranz to give it an excellentcritique. In addition one of my consultant's FLTLTRohan Gaskill took a copy with him on hisdeployment to Bosnia. On his return he contacted meto tell me he had found it a useful reference platformand encouraged me to finish the work. Not havingbeen on a deployment myself I was a little uncertainwriting about something I had not experienced firsthand.Everything is fluid in this world and the MCDmodel pushes the envelope of my profession. Thesmall bibliography and my lack of experience “onthe-ground”ascertain's that this is not an authoritativework. It is only a discussion article and hopefully thework will generate a healthy debate.To all I have spoken to on the subject, and tothose who have taken the time to read the drafts andoffer comment. Your feedback has beenconstructively critical and helpful, thank you.